According to this article, some government officials in China are abusing human rights when it comes to lead poisoning, especially in children. Children are particularly susceptible to lead poisoning because a child's rapidly developing brain is particularly sensitive. The following is just a short list of the possible damaging effects of lead toxicity: intellectual and developmental disabilities, behavioral problems, hearing loss, attention problems, and decreased visual and motor functioning. A watchdog organization called Human Rights Watch published a news release last summer that claims China is restricting access to testing, falsifying test results, and denying treatment to those who have been found with traceable levels of lead in their bodies. Recently, officials from the Chinese Environmental Protection Ministry have begun to crackdown on those who violate environmental restrictions; however, the Chinese government has yet to address the health consequences of the possibly millions of children who are affected. This reminds me of something Rachel Carson said in Silent Spring about insecticides: "Although [it] is a matter of concern in agriculture and forestry, it is in the field of public health that the most serious apprehensions have been felt" (Chapter 16). I feel like this is a matter of international concern, the offenders need to be brought to justice, and this blatant abuse of human rights needs to be stopped. What do you think?Full article here: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/228647.php
This news is appalling and terrible, but it is not shocking as China is notorious for falsifying their public and international data. It is sad that it takes non-governmental organizations taking action and raising awareness about these issues for action to be taken with the country. However, I feel that due to the difficulty of global enforcement and the spread of globalization on global economics the feasibility for global social justice relies on economic consequences.
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